ANNAPOLIS, Md. – It may be a new year and a new season for the Navy women’s cross country squad, but the Mids are looking to go for the trifecta in the Patriot League. The season has yet to begin and the conference’s preseason poll, voted on by all the head coaches and SIDs, has the Midshipmen predicted to finish first for their third straight conference title. Navy will begin the 2013 season with its first tune-up race at the Mount St. Mary’s Dual match on Friday, Aug. 30 at Emmitsburg, Md.

“Coming into the 2013 season, we have a good problem with the amount of depth on the team,” said Head Coach Karen Boyle. “We have a number of girls from the top two spots all the way down to the 10 and 11 spots who can mix in at any time during any given meet to contribute to our team scoring.”

Top ReturnerThe 2012 Patriot League Champion, junior runner Annie-Norah Beverider, returns to defend her title in 2013. Beveridge has excelled since she has stepped foot on the Navy women’s cross country squad. In her freshman season, the Ann Arbor, Mich. native garnered the conference’s Rookie of the Year honors and Second Team All-Patriot League as well.

“I can see her catapulting from where she was last season, having such a superb summer training,” said Boyle. “She is fit, a little bit stronger than she was last season, so I can see her finishes a little higher in the Region as opposed to last seasons results.”

Team CaptainThree-year veteran Mary Jordan has been dubbed the team’s captain for the 2013 season. Jordan will look to lead the team both on and off the field. Her main event that she has competed in for three straight seasons has been the Salty Dog Invitational (host by Navy). In each of the past three seasons, Jordan has improved on her race time, showing that she is improving as a runner each year (2010 finish – 24:51.7, 2011 – 24:48.10, 2012 – 24:18).

“She (Mary Jordan) has done a great job getting the squad together this summer,” said Coach Boyle. “She has set up a training block with the team, 18 total runners met and her leadership has shown through training and interaction amongst the squad. She is stronger this year, physically and confidence-wise, which will translate well in the meets with her looking to finish in the top-4 of the team in each race.”

Stick Together Like GlueJunior Christina Blair and sophomore Kelly Robinson are two Mids that will be considered the glue during meets. Blair and Robinson are two runners who will look to stay in competition with Navy’s top-2 runners as well as the runners in the five, six and seven positions. Blair improved on her Patriot League Championship finish from her freshman year to her sophomore season (25:15 to 23:44). A First Team All-Patriot League member, Robinson shined as a freshman. She placed sixth overall in the Patriot League Championship with a finishing time of 22:55.

“I can see (Kelly) Robinson and (Christina) Blair taking on key leadership roles during meets this season,” said Boyle. “Their vocalization during the meets, and bringing runners who are anywhere from the five position to the 10th position up towards the top-half of the pack will be crucial to our team’s success.”

No Shortage Of DepthSophomores Meghan Harvey, Ashley Welker and Amanda Mulkey, all as key contributors their freshmen campaigns, will be looked on to continue that promise coming into the 2013 season. All three runners finished in Navy’s top-10 for the Patriot League Championship. Welker placed third, followed by Harvey (7th) and Mulkey (9th) amongst the Midshipmen in the conference race. Entering on the team are freshmen Katie Jan and Mary Cate Scully, who are candidates to have instant impacts for this season.

“I can see all three of these runners contributing in the scoring positions for our squad this season,” stated Boyle. “It is in our benefit that on any given day, if say one or two runners that may have a bad day, we have bountiful amount of depth to cover up for a potentially bad day.”